If you simply love horror movies, then you’re in for a treat. Orphan is a psychological horror film centered on a malevolent child named Esther, who soon after its adoption begins to show signs of strikingly disturbing behavior.
Although the first movie has struck a nerve amongst the viewers, resulting in media controversy and debates, we can’t say it wasn’t successful. After all, the movie went on to gross over $78 million worldwide! The second movie, Orphan: First Kill, will be released on August 19, 2022, and we’re dying to see it. Supposedly, it even contains some true crime elements. So, if you’re wondering about the whole Orphan sequel, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we will explore all of the Orphan movies and the true stories behind them. Let’s see how many Orphan movies are there.
How Many Orphan Movies Are There?
There are only two Oprhan movies so far (but that doesn’t mean there won’t be more to follow!). The first Orphan movie was theatrically released in 2009, while the prequel, titled Orphan: First Kill, will be released on the 19th of August, 2022. Yes, you’ve read that right; in just four days you will be able to watch it in selected theaters and stream it online. Feeling excited yet?
Orphan Movies in Order
Here are the Orphan movies in order of release:
- Orphan (2009)
- Orphan: First Kill (2022)
The list is still pretty short, but we suspect it will only grow in the following years! Keep on reading if you’re wondering about the best way to watch these terrifying movies, and if they are even connected.
What Is the Best Way to Watch Orphan Movies?
The best way to watch Orphan movies is in order of release. Even though it is not necessary to watch the first Orphan movie to understand the sequel(/prequel), our personal suggestion is that the Orphan movies be watched by the release date. Here’s why:
The first Orphan movie is more mysterious by far. It unsuspectedly throws you deep into the mystery of a blood-splattered minor, while the 2022 movie serves as a more predictable prequel. If you want to fully follow the chronological timeline, then ideal watch order would be to start with the First Kill (to be released in 2022) followed by Orphan (2009). As the title suggests, the secret is already out; we’ve already found out Esther is not who she pretends to be, and, in Orphan: First Kill we’re going to see the very beginning of her serial killer journey. Overall, even the movie title is more suggestive of what to expect. Meanwhile, the first movie came off as a bit of shock to its viewers, after finding out that [spoiler alert:] Esther is actually a 33-year-old deviant woman.
Orphan Movies in Order by Release Date
Orphan (2009)
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, and written by David Leslie Johnson, Orphan became a widely known psychological horror film, and it was actually based on a story by Alex Mace. The whole plot is based on a little girl which is simultaneously toying with both of her adoptive parents. Eventually, it is discovered that little Esther is a murderous 33-year-old woman with hypopituitarism, wrapped in velvet ribbons and little dresses. Saturated with guilt, sexual deviance, and lots of anger, Orphan went on to gross $78 million worldwide.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
As the first film raised many questions amongst the audience, the upcoming prequel is going to be a lot more directly focused on Esther’s early life. Expect to see the beginning of Esther’s bloody crusades and her journey of stealing someone’s identity, all while pretending to be an undutiful daughter to unsuspecting parents.
The story tells the tale of Esther’s first victims, Katie and Richard Mauerova. After missing for four years prior, the parents finally find their little girl. But the plot darkens up pretty quickly when they realize she might not be who they thought she was.
Are Orphan Movies Based on a True Story?
Orphan is partially based on a true story. Even though the writers came up with their own little twists to the story, the Orphan isn’t all fictional. What most of the audience doesn’t know is that the movies were inspired by some of the most creepy true crime stories.
The case that is widely accepted to serve as an inspiration for the creation of Orphan is the case of Barbora Skrlová. The case made a national news story in 2008 when a nationwide search in Norway for a 13-year-old Czech boy exposed a bizarre case of identity theft and torture. According to CBS News, a 33-year-old-woman spent four months posing as a schoolboy named ‘Adam’, with her head shaven and breasts bound.
Apparently, this was also not the first time Skrlová has fooled the authorities – in Brno, she has posed as a 13-year-old girl adopted by Klara Maureova. What’s even more sickening is that Skrlová is a key witness in the case of the abuse of Maureova’s two biological sons. The whole case is raging with morbidity, as it is filled with cannibalism, child abuse, identity theft, and cults.
Are Orphan Movies Connected?
Orphan movies are connected. Although it is not necessary to watch the first Orphan movie to understand the prequel that is going to be released this August, the movies are connected. While Orphan (2009) is centered on a couple who adopts a deviant nine-year-old Esther from an orphanage, Orphan: First Kill (2022) will be more focused on the early life of Esther, featuring her bloody journey from an Estonian psychiatric facility to America.
Will There Be More Orphan Movies?
It is yet unknown whether there will be more Orphan movies or not. We can only speculate, as the official directors and producers never really confirmed it. So far, the saga is only consisting of two movies, Orphan (2009) and Orphan: First Kill, but in our humble opinions – there is more to come.
Where to Watch the Orphan Movies?
Paramount Pictures plans to release Orphan: First Kill in select theaters, while simultaneously premiering the film on Paramount+. The original Orphan is also featured on Paramount+, but can also be found in different sources online, such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Redbox, and Netflix. In conclusion, you can already easily stream the first Orphan movie, all while waiting for the premiere of Orphan: First Kill. So, what are you waiting for?!
